Closure fastening device for a purse, handbag, or similar item



Oct. 25, 1966 G. REITZEL 3,281,175

CLOSURE FASTENING DEVICE FOR A PURSE, HANDBAG, OR SIMILAR ITEM FiledFeb. 18, 1965 f H An -i 40 l 4oa a FIG. I2

30 INVENTOR.

/ GEORG RE/TZEL 2 BY HM M FIG. IO

A r TOR V 71:

United States Patent 3,281,175 CLOSURE FASTENING DEVICE FOR A PURSE,

HANDBAG, 0R SIMILAR ITEM Georg Reitzel, Altenmittlau, Kreis Gelnhausen,Germany,

assignor of one-half to Drescher & Kiefer, Altenmittlau, KreisGelnhausen, Germany, a German firm, and onehalf to Randolph-RandCorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 18,1965, Ser. No. 433,652

6 Claims. (Cl. 292-87) The present invention relates to a closurelatching device for a ladys purse, handbag or similar accessory, andmore particularly to a closure latching device of this kind the closuremembers of which are retained in the closed position by spring actionand are released by overcoming the spring action.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved closurelatching device of the general kind above referred to the entiremechanism of which is located within the lateral outline of the frame ofthe purse or similar item. This has the advantage that the closurelatching device is not likely to become entangled with other items, suchas handkerchiefs, etc., carried in a handbag in addition to a purse.Such entanglement may cause damage to the respective items andaccidental opening of the closure device. Another advantage of theclosure device according to the invention is that it affords increasedprotection against pickpockets, since a clandestine opening of thedevice is more diflicult than the opening of a conventional closuredevice having parts protruding laterally from the frame of the purse,handbag or similar item.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved closure device of the general kind above referred to which isself-closing when the closure members of the device are pressed againsteach other and which is released by laterally tilting a closure latchingmember upwardly protruding from the frame.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved closure latching device of the general kind above referred towhich is simple and sturdy in design, convenient in operation andinexpensive to manufacture, and which permits a highly ornamentalconfiguration without adversely affecting the closing action and thesafety of the device.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention willbe pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claimsconstituting part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of the invention isshown by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a purse with a closure device accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 orFIG. 3 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of one frame portion of the closuredevice;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of another frame portion of the closuredevice;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a component of the mechanism of the closuredevice;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the component of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the component of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a side view of another component of the mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a right-hand end view of the component of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an elevational side view of still another component of themechanism;

FIG. 12 is an end view of the component of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the component of FIG. 11, and

FIG. 14 is an end view of the closure device showing the same in itsopen position.

Referring now to the figures in detail, and first to FIG. 1, the purseshown in the figure comprises a frame consisting substantially of twogenerally U-shaped frame members 10 and 11. The two frame members whichmay be made of any suitable material, such as metal or plastic, arehinged together at the free ends of their side arms by any suitablemeans, such as rivets or screws 12. The frame members, particularly thebase portions 10a and 11a thereof, may have the generally U-shaped crosssection shown in FIG. 2, whereby the outer branch may be somewhat longerthan the inner branch. As is evident, the two base portions of the framemembers may be pivoted from the side-by-side position of FIG. 1, whichconstitutes the closed position of the device, into a spreadapart openposition to provide access to the interior of the purse. The purseproper may be made of any pliable material suitable for the purpose,such as fabric or leather, and is secured to the frame in a conventionalmanner to form a pocket 13. The structure of the purse itself does notconstitute part of the invention and hence is not described in detail.As previously pointed out, the invention is concerned with the closurelatching device 15, including the portions of the frame which constitutepart of the closure device. The closure device will now be describedmore in detail.

The closure latching device comprises a catch nose 20 upwardlyprotruding from the base portion 10a of frame member 10. The nose may beraised out of the material of the frame member, as shown in FIG. 2, butmay also be a separate element suitably secured to the top side of framemember 10a. In this connection it should be mentioned that the framemembers need not have the exemplified U shape, but may be in the for-mof simple bars, or may have any other suitable shape.

The frame member 11a mounts a generally sleeveshaped holder 21 suitablysecured to the frame member, for instance, by extending the holderthrough an opening 22 in the top side of member 11a and soldering orbrazing a branch 21a of the holder to the inside wall of frame member11. The holder may also be secured directly to the top surface of framemember 11a in a conventional and suitable fashion.

The closure latching device further comprises a locking member 25 in theform of a generally rectangular box. The box has a flat bottom plate25a. The box is open opposite the bottom, and one of the side walls maybe left open, as is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, to facilitate mounting ofthe box and the components therein, as will be more fully explainedhereinafter. The plate 25a includes two elongated slots 26 and 27 whichextend parallel to frame portions 10a and 11a.

Holder 21 extends through slot 26, and the protruding portion of theholder serves to accommodate and retain a locking member 30. As can bestbe seen in FIG. 9, the locking member may be of generally U-shapedconfiguration. Branch 30a of the member 30 may be flattened and isfitted into the protruding portion of holder 21. The other branch, 30b,forms a springy arm which is biased downwardly in reference to theprotruding holder portion and also in reference to plate 25a.Accordingly, the springy arm will tend to tilt plate 25a incounterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 about the apex or baseportion of frame member 11 as a fulcrum. Two noses 32 and 33 on framemember 11a limit the tilting of the box in counterclockwise direction tothe approximately horizontal position shown in FIG. 2. Instead of thespecific configuration of locking member 30 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10,the locking member may also be in the form of a simple round wire. It isessential merely that the locking member be retained by the holder andhave a downwardly biased locking portion similar to locking arm 30b.

Catch nose 20 is positioned to be received in slot 27 of plate 25a andto protrude through the slot when the two frame members 10 and 11 areplaced in the side-byside position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Thespringincss of arm 301) permits entry of catch nose into the positionillustrated in FIG. 2 by allowing a slight tilting of box in theclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2. Arm b is so positioned and biasedthat it will engage behind catch nose 20 when the two frame members 10aand 11a are in the illustrated side-by-side position, thereby lockingthe two frame members together, as desired.

To release nose 20 from the locking position of FIG. 2, plate 25a isslightly tilted in clockwise direction against the action of springy arm30b of locking member 30.

Base plate 25a is secured in a cap 40, partly for ornamental reasons, toconceal the closure mechanism of the device, and partly to protect thelocking member 30 and the protruding portion of holder 21. Cap 40 may bemade of polished metal and be further adorned, for instance, byinserting a colored piece of glass. The cap preferably has a transversefrustoconical cross section, as is clearly shown in the figures. It isdisposed lengthwise of frame member portions 10a and 11a. The maximumwidth of the cap is shown as being less than the combined transversewidths of frame member portions 10a and 11a to avoid overhanging of theclosure latching device over the frame of the purse.

The cap is open on its wide parallel side, and plate 25a is secured totheopen side of the cap by any suitable means. As is evident from theforegoing description, a flat plate 25a is functionally sufficient, butit is preferable to provide the plate as the base of a generallyrectangular box, as previously stated. Such boxlike structure lendsgreater strength to the closure device and facilitates the mounting ofplate 25a in cap 40. The inner walls of the cap include a generallyrectangular portion 40a, and the side walls 25b of holder 25 aresuitably secured, for instance by force fitting, in the rectangular Wallportions of cap 40.

Reverting to FIG. 1, this figure shows the finished purse in its closedposition. FIG. 14 shows the closure device released by simply tiltingcap 40 from the position of FIG. 1 into the position of FIG. 14. As isshown in the latter figure, nose 20 is clear of slot 27 in plate 25a andarm 30b, and the two U-shaped frame members 10 and 11 may now be spreadapart to provide access to the purse.

'To close the purse, the two frame members are simply pressed againsteach other, and the resulting pressure exerted by nose 20 upon plate 25awill force the cap toward the position of FIG. 14 until finally nose 20snaps into slot 27 and against arm 30b, whereupon the cap returns intothe position of FIG. 1.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to acertain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the.invention, that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it isintended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure latching device for a purse, handbag or similar item, saiddevice comprising a frame including two bars movable between aside-by-side closure position and a spaced-apart open position, a catchnose upwardly protruding from one of said bars, a holder secured to theother bar upwardly protruding therefrom, a locking member secured tosaid holder and including a springy arm biased into locking engagementwith said nose when the two bars are in said closing position, and alocking plate including two slots, said holder protruding through one ofsaid slots and said springy arm being located on the side of the plateopposite the respective bar, said holder and said locking memberretaining the plate on the respective bar slightly tiltable in referencethereto, said nose protruding through the other slot in said plate inthe closing position of the bars for engagement of the nose by saidspringy arm, tilting of the plate against the bias of the springy armdisengaging the nose from the arm and the plate, thereby releasing theclosure latching device.

2. A closure latching device for a purse, handbag or similar item, saiddevice comprising a frame including two bars movable between aside-by-side closure position and a spaced-apart open position, a catchnose upwardly protruding from one of said bars, a holder secured to theother bar upwardly protruding therefrom, a locking member secured tosaid holder and including a downwardly biased springy arm on the side ofthe holder facing said nose, said springy arm engaging behind said nosein reference to said holder when the two bars are in said closingposition, a locking plate including two slots, said holder protrudingthrough one of said slots and said springy arm being located on the sideof the plate opposite the respective bar, said holder and said lockingmember retaining the plate on the respective bar slightly tiltable inreference thereto, said nose protruding through the other slot in saidplate in the closing position of the bars for engagement of the nose bysaid springy arm, tilting of the plate against the bias of the springyarm disengaging the nose from the arm and the plate, thereby releasingthe closure latching device and a cap secured to said plate and coveringthe protruding holder portion and the locking member, said cap beingtiltable in unison with the plate.

3. A closure latching device for a purse, handbag or similar item, saiddevice comprising a frame including two substantially parallel closurebars movable between a side-by-side closure position and a spaced-apartopen position, a catch nose upwardly protruding from one of said bars, aholder secured to the other bar upwardly protruding therefrom, a lockingmember secured to said holder and including a downwardly biased springyarm on the side of the holder facing said nose, said springy armengaging behind said nose in reference to said holder when the two barsare in said closing position, a substantially rectangular locking plateextending lengthwise parallel to said bars and including two slots, thewidth of said plate being within the combined width of said bars, saidholder protruding through one of said slots and said springy arm beinglocated on the side of the plate opposite the respective bar, saidholder and said locking member retaining the plate on the respective barslightly tiltable in reference thereto, said nose protruding through theother slot in said plate in the closing position of the bars forengagement of the nose by said springy arm, tilting of the plate againstthe bias of the springy arm disengaging the nose from the arm and theplate, thereby releasing the closure latching device, and an elongatedcap secured to said plate and covering the protruding holder portion andthe locking member, the width of said cap being within the combinedwidth of said bars, said cap being tiltable in unison with the plate.

4. A closure device according to claim 3, wherein said cap has asubstantially frustoconical transverse cross section, the wide parallelside of the cap being open, said plate being secured to the cap at saidopen side thereof to form a closed base side for the cap.

5. A closure device according to claim 4, wherein said plate constitutesthe base of a substantially rectangular box, and wherein the inner wallsof said cap include wall portions defining a substantially rectangularreceptacle,

said box being secured in said receptacle.

6. A closure latching device for a purse, handbag or similar item, saiddevice comprising a frame including two closure bars movable between aside-by-side closure position and a spaced-apart open position, a catchnose upwardly protruding from one of said bars, a holder secured to theother bar upwardly protruding therefrom, a generally U-shaped springylocking member, one arm of said member being secured to said holder andthe other being downwardly biased to engage said nose in lockingengagement when the two bars are in said closing position, a lockingplate extending parallel to said bars and including two slots, saidholder protruding through one of said slots and said springy arm beinglocated on the side of the plate opposite the respective bar, saidholder and said locking member retaining the plate on the respective barslightly tiltable in reference thereto, said nose protruding through theother slot in said plate in the closing position of the bars forengagement of the nose by said springy arm, tilting of the plate 6against the bias of the locking member disengaging the nose from the armand the plate, thereby releasing the closure latching device, and a capsecured to said plate and covering the protruding holder portion and thelocking member, said cap being tiltable in unison with the plate.

References Cited by the Examiner EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Examiner.

1. A CLOSURE LATCHING DEVICE FOR A PURSE, HANDBAG OR SIMILAR ITEM, SAIDDEVICE COMPRISING A FRAME INCLUDING TWO BARS MOVABLE BETWEEN ASIDE-BY-SIDE CLOSURE POSITION AND A SPACED-APART OPEN POSITION, A CATCHNOSE UPWARDLY PROTRUDING FROM ONE OF SAID BARS, A HOLDER SECURED TO THEOTHER BAR UPWARDLY PROTRUDING THEREFROM, A LOCKING MEMBER SECURED TOSAID HOLDER AND INCLUDING A SPRINGY ARM BIASED INTO LOCKING ENGAGEMENTWITH SAID NOSE WHEN THE TWO BARS ARE IN SAID CLOSING POSITION, AND ALOCKING PLATE INCLUDING TWO SLOTS, HOLDER PROTRUDING THROUGH ONE OF SAIDSLOTS AND SAID SPRINGY ARM BEING LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE PLATEOPPOSITE THE RESPECTIVE BAR, SAID HOLDER AND SAID LOCKING MEMBERRETAINING THE PLATE ON THE RESPECTIVE BAR SLIGHTLY TILTABLE IN REFERENCETHERETO, SAID NOSE